Speed of Dark - by Patricia Ricketts (Paperback)

About the Book

In the grips of hopelessness, a grieving Mary Em Phillips vows to end it all--but her course changes when Mosely Albright, a black man from Chicago's South Side with an expansive, selfless personality, intrudes into her sorrows. Meanwhile, Mishigami, who sees a potential champion in Mary Em, continues to attempt to pull her into his waiting, watery depths.

Book Synopsis

Mary Em Phillips has decided to end it all after losing her beloved Mamie, who raised her; her husband, Jack, who has left her for another woman; and her only son, Petey, who has died as a result of a freak bacterial infection. But when Mosely Albright, a black man from Chicago's South Side, comes to her back door one morning needing a drink of water and seeking directions back to the train, her plans are derailed . . . to the chagrin of Mishigami (so named by the Ojibwe, also known as Lake Michigan), who has been trying to lure Mary Em into his icy depths in the hopes that she will save him.

Mary Em wants nothing more than to end her anguish. Mosely is searching for the love he's been missing most of his life. And Mishigami--who fears he is dying from rampant pollution and overfishing--seeks a champion.

A story of friendship, survival, connection and the unquestioning power of nature told through three distinct voices, Speed of Dark affirms a love of humanity that transcends all else, including race and background.

Review Quotes

"Speed of Dark is a great read, a compelling tale, which examines
grief and how humanity, hope, and kindness sometimes prevail against
all odds, with even the forces of nature lending a hand. Its wonderfully
textured prose will keep you turning pages."

--Steven A. Jones, producer/director of Mad Dog and Glory and The Harvest

"I absolutely loved it! Such diverse characters come alive, their lives
linked in such intricate ways. Ricketts captures the 'yin-yang'
relationship between joy and sorrow, love and loss, gratitude and guilt.
Wonderful insights."

--T.R. Kerth, author of Revenge of the Sardines and syndicated newspaper columnist The View from Planet Kerth in Naples, Florida, and Huntley, IL

"What a complex story of these characters' connection to each other and
to the natural world! The dialogue is realistic and rich, Mary Em's
inner struggles are vividly compelling."

--Betsy White, Instagram's @BiblioBetsy book reviewer and blogger